The contingent valuation study of Heiðmörk, Iceland - Willingness to pay for its preservation.

The decision-making and policy formation context in Iceland has been largely devoid of total economic valuations in cost-benefit assessments. Using an internet survey and applying the double bounded dichotomous choice methodology, this contingent valuation study sets out an estimate of the total economic value pertaining to Heiðmörk, a popular recreational area of urban open space located on the fringes of Reykjavík, Garðabær and Kópavogur. In so doing, this case study advances the practice of using non-market valuation techniques in the country. The welfare estimates provide evidence that Icelanders consider Heiðmörk to possess considerable total economic value, with taxpayers willing to pay a mean lump-sum tax in the range 17,039 to 24,790 ISK per payment to secure its preservation, equating to an estimated total economic value of between 5.87 and 35.47 billion ISK. In the light of possible competitive land management demands among Heiðmörk's three owners and many recreational users in the future, the establishment of these values and their potential use in cost-benefit assessments informs the debate concerning whether the area should be preserved or further developed to satisfy economic objectives. Additionally, a body of experimental evidence is formed suggesting that the increased duration of a fixed payment vehicle is associated with much higher total economic valuations compared to a one-year payment period.

[The effects of induced labor at 41 week of pregnancy on mode of delivery and outcome].

INTRODUCTION: Rates of induction of labor (IOL) in Iceland and most neighboring countries have increased. Recent literature on IOL provided contradicting effects on mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of IOL in late term pregnancies (≥41 weeks) on mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcome. A retrospective cohort study of deliveries after 41 weeks of pregnancy was conducted for all deliveries in Landspitali in the period 2013-2016, comparing outcomes of IOL deliveries to spontaneous labor deliveries. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the impact of the independent variables on the outcome. RESULTS: Of the 2419 women cohort, 61.8% had a spontaneous onset of labor and 38.2% had IOL. The results show that IOL increases probability of caesarean section in primiparas women (p<0.01). IOL increases the use of epidural anesthesia in labor, both for primiparas (p<0.001) and multiparas (p<0.05). Similar results where observed in the neonatal outcome in both groups. Gestational age increases the probability of instrumental delivery (p<0.05), caesarean section (p<0.01), use of epidural anesthe-sia (p<0.01), Apgar <7 at 5 minutes (p<0.01) and fetal distress (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Induction of labor has some negative impact on maternal outcome but leads at the same time to a shorter preg-nancy, which again decreases negative impact of prolonged pregnancy. It is important to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of induction of labor before making a decision when to induce labor.